Archive for May 9th, 2017

Voddick launched a bolt down the corridor and was rewarded with a thunk as it hit flesh followed by a soft curse. “I hate bastard who use magic to hide themselves.” He struggled to recock his crossbow.

Gollaon wove patterns with his sword through the air. “It is rare to fight so many unseen foes.” He winced as a slash appeared on his thigh, he pivoted and thrust and was rewarded by a body, suddenly visible, crashing to the floor.

Revealed, the unseen attacker seemed far less dangerous. A man of average height in nondescript leather armor, his only decoration a silver headband.

“Grab the headband!” shouted Voddick. Firing another bolt down the corridor, it embedded itself in the far wall. “Damn.”

Gollaon did. “I can see them! There are three of them and coming fast.”

“Damn,” Voddick tossed aside his crossbow and grabbed for his sword.

Assassin’s Eye and Cloak

These items are made in groups sometimes as small as pairs and rarely more than a dozen. The cloak is of a nondescript but durable make with a dull clasp, the eye is a headband sometime made of cloth or leather (especially for the expendable version) or of dulled copper or silver.

How is magic used behind the scenes in a setting for good or ill? In many ways, from simple weather forecasting to construction of starships, magic underlies much of day to day life in the Sea of Stars. Mostly these are for positive things, household magic, crafting magic, travel magic, all ways to make life a little easier for the users of such. Of course there are always those with a black heart who turn to curses and ill-starred magic to get what they want (or revenge on those who thwarted their ambitions) but they are in the minority.

Are there magical conspiracies afoot? Throw a wand in any major city and you are likely to hit one. Conspiracies among or against the dragons, secret cabals of wizards, hidden cults worshiping forbidden and esoteric powers, groups practicing folk magic away from prying eyes and so on. Many of these are local conspiracies aim at protecting or improving the lot of a minority; the island or even multi-island wide conspiracies are the rare exception aiming to change the status but they are difficult to maintain, partly because even with magic they are hard to coordinate and maintain, but a few exist. The most well known would be the Sen’Tek, the Moon Sect and the Redemptionists, all opposed to the dragons to one extent or another.

Does magical power imply other kind of power (political, criminal, economic)? Yes, magical power can be converted into any other kind with the right application. As magical power is usable to perform so many other action, those with magical power usual aligned (or are aligned) with a particular faction soon after revealing or mastering their magical talent so that they can use their magic to advance that faction’s goals. Once enmeshed in a faction, a magic user’s magic tend to be bend toward that faction’s ends, guild wizard master guild spell, military wizards learn combat magics and so on.